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12atsbl04 Tcas Pilot Training Issues PDF
12atsbl04 Tcas Pilot Training Issues PDF
In order to avoid confusion of the terms used it is a good idea to clarify the relationship between the terms TCAS and ACAS. At
present, TCAS is the only commercially available implementation of the ICAO standard for ACAS II. While the terms are virtually
interchangeable, Eurocontrol tends to refer to ACAS when talking about the concept, and TCAS when talking about equipment,
incidents, or encounters.
A clear understanding of the definitions, system operations and operating procedures is vital if ACAS is to achieve safety benefits.
ACAS II has been mandated for several years, yet situations with inappropriate pilot responses are still being reported. These inap-
propriate responses have led to severe loss of separation or, in extreme cases, even accidents.
from 4.4 degrees nose up to 17.8 degrees nose down in just 7 seconds. When the pilot pulled back to arrest the excessive descent rate
the acceleration changed from –1.06g to +2.48g (in 4 seconds) The resulting G-forces caused injuries to 21 occupants (four serious-
ly) and damage to the interior of the aircraft. The aircraft had to divert to a nearby airport to seek medical assistance for the injured.
Training points:
Pilots should avoid excessive responses to RAs: RAs never require vertical rates as excessive as described above.
Responses to RAs must be followed as indicated on the flight deck instruments.
Vertical rates for initial RAs: For initial RAs requiring a change in vertical speed, initiation of a response in the proper
direction must be made within five seconds of the RA being displayed. For example, the “Descend” and “Climb” RAs
require vertical speeds of 1500 ft/min. The change in vertical speed is accomplished by an acceleration of approximately
1/4 g to obtain the required vertical speed.
Vertical rates for subsequent RAs: The response time is reduced to 2.5 seconds for subsequent RAs. The acceleration
within which the change in vertical speed is accomplished is 1/3 g for increase rate and reversal RAs and 1/4 g for
weakening and strengthening RAs.
Practical advice how to achieve the required acceleration is provided in JAA-TGL 11 which states: “An acceleration of
approximately 1/4 g will be achieved if the change in pitch attitude corresponding to a change in vertical speed of
1500 ft/min is accomplished in approximately five seconds, and of 1/3 g if the change is accomplished in approximately
three seconds. The change in pitch attitude required to establish a rate of climb or descent of 1500 ft/min from level flight
will be approximately six degrees when the True Air Speed is 150 kts, four degrees at 250 kts, and two degrees at
500 kts. (These angles are derived from the formula: 1000 divided by TAS.)”
Event 2
An RJ85 is cleared after departure to climb to FL150 on a heading of 330 degrees. An A330 is flying on a heading of 300 degrees de-
scending towards its destination. The predicted trajectories of both aircraft are expected to cross with a horizontal separation of less
than 1 mile. The air traffic control-
ler planned to clear the A330 to
FL160 (1000 ft above the RJ85).
However, the controller clears the
A330 to FL150 by mistake.
Some time later, the controller A330
instructs the RJ85 to turn right “Traffic, traffic” “Adjust vertical speed,
onto a heading of 345 degrees. adjust”
When the aircraft are 2.5 NM and FL160
2100 ft apart TAs are issued for
both aircraft. A few seconds later, “Maintain vertical speed,
Short Term Conflict Alert warns crossing maintain”
the controller of the impending “Clear of conflict”
conflict. The controller issues FL150
avoiding action instructions to
both aircraft: “Maintain vertical speed,
“A330 turn right heading 360 crossing maintain”
degrees”
“RJ85 turn left heading 270 “Clear of conflict”
degrees.” FL140
Training points:
RAs provide successful mitigation against the risk of a mid-air collision.
Follow RAs: Correct and prompt responses to RAs are necessary to reduce the risk of serious incidents or accidents.
Crossing RAs: Although they are rare, training programmes should cover them.
Event 3
A Cessna Citation is on the
ground requesting start up
“Crossing and departure clearance.
descent” The Citation is not equipped with
777 “Increase TCAS II. Its maximum take-off
descent” mass is below 5700 kg, so the
“Climb aircraft is outside the current eq-
NOW” uipage mandate. The tower con-
troller clears the Citation to climb
to 3000 ft after take-off. The pilot
4000ft reads back “4000 ft” and this in-
correct read-back is not detected
by the controller. Consequently,
once airborne the aircraft is climb-
ing to 4000 ft.
As the aircraft converge, the Citation is turning onto a northerly heading, passing through 3000 feet climbing 3300 ft/min. At this
point the B777 crew gets a TA against the Citation. Although not required, the 777 pilot reports the TA to ATC, “We have a traffic
alert”. During this radio transmission a “Crossing descent” RA is generated.
The 777 controller sees the conflict developing and suspects that an RA could already have been issued (but not yet reported). He is
aware that he should not issue any instructions to aircraft experiencing RAs, so he asks the 777 crew if they can climb back to 5000
ft, rather than instructing them to climb. Soon after that the RA on board the 777 strengthens to “Increase descent”.
The 777 crew does not respond to the RAs and the 777 levels off at 4000 ft. Later, the Captain stated that seeing the other aircraft on
the TCAS display he was concerned that a descent would put his aircraft closer to the Citation.
The aircraft pass each other on a reciprocal heading just 0.5 NM apart horizontally and 100-200 ft vertically. Just seconds before
they pass each other, the 777 receives a “Climb” RA. The 777 crew responds to this RA but by then the Citation is already behind.
Training points:
777 crew:
“Increase descent” or “Increase climb” (i.e. strengthening RAs). RAs must be followed as a matter of priority. An initial
RA will strengthen if insufficient response to the initial RA is detected, or if either aircraft accelerates toward the other
aircraft. Pilots must be prepared to respond to strengthening RAs within 2.5 seconds.
“Climb NOW” or “Descend NOW” (i.e. reversal RAs) will be posted when the intruder aircraft manoeuvres vertically in
the direction of the other aircraft and the current RA is deemed to be not effective any more. RA reversals are rare (less
than 1% of all RAs). Pilots must be prepared to respond to reversal RAs within 2.5 seconds.
12ATSBL04
TCAS traffic display: it must not be used to try to determine the degree of collision risk.
Reporting to ATC: RAs that require a departure from the current ATC clearance or instruction must be reported to ATC.
TAs are not required to be reported to ATC.
Citation crew:
Vertical speed: 1000 feet before level off the vertical speed should not exceed 1500 ft/min if the flight crew is made
aware of another aircraft at or approaching an adjacent altitude or flight level.
ATC:
In the absence of an RA report, ATC horizontal avoiding instructions will not adversely affect TCAS II RAs.
ACAS training is crucial to ensure that pilots correctly interpret and react to RAs and the ACAS pilot training is very important.
Prompt and correct reaction to RAs is fundamental. The potential consequences of not reacting to an RA are clear, and responses
that are too weak or too aggressive can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of TCAS.
TMA En route
(Below FL135) (Above FL135)
No reaction or
opposite reaction
No reaction or
opposite reaction 14%
26%
Inappropriate
vertical speed
Complied with RA
21% Complied with RA
55% 65%
Inappropriate
vertical speed
19%
The full module can be accessed without prior registration at: trainingzone.eurocontrol.int under the Direct Access Modules, Air
Traffic Control folders.
TCAS videos
There are TCAS training videos clips produced by NATS and Flight Safety Foundation available on SKYbrary: click here to ac-
cess
Conclusions
While RAs are rare events, when they happen the situation may be critical, and correct action must be taken. Recurrent training
will improve flight crew understanding of how TCAS works, how they should respond to RAs, as well as the limitations of TCAS.
Monitoring programmes have identified a number of situations where pilot responses are inappropriate – aircraft operators and train-
ing facilities should consider making these the focus of recurrent training sessions.